[Requiem]

It's not usually a big deal, but it's been happening quite a bit lately. So just a reminder for anyone new to the forum who didn't bother reading through the whole TOS that it's generally not a great idea to revive old topics. If a topic has been inactive(no new posts) for more than 30 days, ask yourself if what you're about to post is a very valid contribution and worth the topic's revival. 99.9% of the time the conclusion you should reach is "no".

Thanks

[Pyroman]

Yes! Necromancers will be severely punished, BURN THE WITCH!

[Master of AFTER]

I think an important thing to add is that, if you're a regular member who witnesses someone breaking this rule, don't feel like you need to be the one to jump in and tell the person responsible for bumping the topic that they did wrong. Don't worry; the admins or the mods will get to it. Attempting to police the boards and jumping on everybody whenever they break a rule doesn't really help the staff. In fact, it's actually kind of annoying...

[Kvitne]

Yeah.... sorry 'bout that.

[SonicTheSamurai]

Master of AFTER, on Aug 19 2007, 11:29 PM, said:

I think an important thing to add is that, if you're a regular member who witnesses someone breaking this rule, don't feel like you need to be the one to jump in and tell the person responsible for bumping the topic that they did wrong.  Don't worry; the admins or the mods will get to it.  Attempting to police the boards and jumping on everybody whenever they break a rule doesn't really help the staff.  In fact, it's actually kind of annoying...

It kinda depends on how the regular member jumps on them. I'm usually the nicest when it comes to that... the others would make it like "OMG THEY KILLED KENNY! YOU DAMN BASTARD!" scene.

And for yall newbies, please with all due respect read the rules and then read them over again. Trust me, you would benefit with that new knowledge into your head for life. So if you dare revive an old topic think about it and ask yourself "Do I have enough points to revive this topic?" If so proceed and if not, then don't waste your time and put yourself in a very bad position were you could get strike. I hope this advice help you guys, goodluck.

[Master of AFTER]

Well, as far as reading the rules goes, I think that's just a generic recommendation that people fall back on to try and stop dumbasses from being dumbasses. I've never actually "read the rules" for any message board community I've ever joined, including SOL. There could be some clause in there about having to include lyrics from a Blue Oyster Cult song in every 387th post I make, or a legally binding contractual agreement that by typing the word "elbow" I owe Sway a live goat at the end of every even-numbered year, and I wouldn't know.

SOL isn't one of those really anal forums with some convoluted code of etiquette that everybody has to follow; the vast majority of our "rules" simply involve general courtesy toward other members and stuff that falls under common sense. Unless you're completely new to the internet and have absolutely no clue of what is traditionally expected of people posting on a forum, you should have a pretty good idea of how you're supposed to act on here even before you glance at the rules.

If people commit a minor faux pas like bumping an old topic or starting a new topic in the wrong section, then it's really no big deal, and I think telling them to "read the rules" is kind of condescending. On the other hand, if they're doing stuff that's really wrong like frequently spamming all over the boards, posting illegal content, harassing other members, or repeating doing something even after they're told not to by a member of the staff, then it's probably a safe bet that they're not going to care enough to be bothered familiarizing themselves with the forum's rules even if they're told to.

If newcomers want to brush up on the rules for future reference, or if they have a specific concern about whether something is allowed or not, then that's great. Otherwise, though, the only two rules we really heavily enforce around here are:

1. Don't do stupid shit.
2. Read everything the staff posts and do what they tell you.

I think I more or less speak for the entire staff when I say this, but if not, then please correct me.

[Kvitne]

Yeah, I have to say I never read the rules. I was just as much a newb when I started here as anyone else. I never really thought of it that way before; people deserve a grace period.

[???????]

I hope that I'm not the only one who actually took the time to read the rules. I feel like such a loser for doing that now...

I guess it was a good thing that I did read them because this is the first forum that I've actually posted on. It would've been GameFaqs, but luckily, around the time I tried to post there (2 or 3 years ago), I wasn't allowed to post or view the message board for some reason.

[Pyroman]

I didn't read all the rules, but only because I've been on a number of forums before this one. I like the rules that MoA posted, and believe that rule #1 should be put into law immediatly. However, if one is completely new to the internet or at least being on a forum, they should read the rules.

[Kvitne]

Yeah, this was my first forum. The only other one I've ever joined is MoA's. I have to say, when I look back on my first few posts, I was pretty annoying.

[VanillaREM]

It would be SO ironic if someone posted in this topic with a random, pointless comment long after it died...

I really should have waited to say that until this topic died. Couldn't resist.

[Gold_TSG]

Master of AFTER, on Aug 20 2007, 07:29 AM, said:

I think an important thing to add is that, if you're a regular member who witnesses someone breaking this rule, don't feel like you need to be the one to jump in and tell the person responsible for bumping the topic that they did wrong.  Don't worry; the admins or the mods will get to it.  Attempting to police the boards and jumping on everybody whenever they break a rule doesn't really help the staff.  In fact, it's actually kind of annoying...

Well, to be fair, annoying or not, sometimes a member will make it before an admin or mod does, and all they do is try to help enforce the rules and expectations of the forum. Think of it as "making things less hectic for the staff." I mean, there really is no harm in a member trying to help newbies out.